The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c8.6

c8.6

There are multitudes of the altars Of the *Nitya Agni* (or “the altars for the obligatory sacrifices”), the three primary ones are the *Gārhapatya*, *Āhavanīya* and *Dakṣiṇa*. Every Vedic Hindu has to offer sacrifices in them daily. Other obligatory sacrifices are seasonal and are performed at special periods. According to the nature of the oblations they are broadly subdivided into three groups: (1) *Iṣṭi Yajña* (or “sacrifice with oblations of butter, fruit, etc.”) such as *Darśa* and *Paurṇamāsa* sacrifices which are performed at every new-moon and full-moon respectively; (2) *Paśu Yajña* (or “Animal sacrifice”) such as *Nirūḍhapaśubandha* which must be performed once every year, more particularly, on a new-moon or full-moon day in the rainy season; or according to a different school twice every year at the time of the winter and summer solstices; (3) *Soma Yajña* (“Soma sacrifice”). This last sacrifice is very big and expensive and so cannot be performed often. But it must be performed in a family of Vedic Hindus at least once in three generations.